carrotspeak

An Ode to Donuts from the Roving Donut Cart

2012-01-24T00:00:00.000+01:00

Nothing has ever tasted quite so sweet. Half the fun is wondering whether the cart will be patiently awaiting you in the PX parking lot. The other half is deciding between caramel and chocolate dipping sauce. Freshly deep fried before your eyes on a miniature donut conveyer belt deep-frying contraption...this is joy. Pure, bite-sized joy.

It's also the mortal enemy of your New Year's Resolution to lose 20 pounds. Thank the heavens I didn't make one of those.

Mondays with Brinks #17

2012-01-23T18:00:00.000+01:00

Brinks investigates the camera. Brinks is inquisitive like that. He also investigates the garbage.
That isn't quite as cute.

{Mondays with Angie @ Harbor Cottage}

Heidelberg Castle: After Dark Edition

2012-01-22T21:03:00.000+01:00

I love how beautiful German castles look at night when they're illuminated. My previous cameras never did the scene justice, but Kyle and I were able to snap a pretty good photo with my new Canon in Heidelberg today, and I had to share it.

When the castles are alight, you can spot them from miles away. That's actually how we discovered three of the ruins we visited (Neuleiningen Ruins, Wachtenburg and Burg Nanstein) -- we saw the castles through the car window from the autobahn while heading home from some other trip, and I scribbled down the name of the closest exit. Living here feels like living in a fairy land. I can't turn a corner without finding something magical.

{previous posts about Heidelberg Castle: 6/2010, 9/2011}

What Happened to Wikipedia? Nothing Much...Yet

2012-01-18T16:19:00.000+01:00

No doubt you've noticed many blacked out websites today in protest of the PIPA/SOPA bills. If you're wondering what that's all about, check this video out, and then go here for more information on how you can help stop internet censorship in its tracks.

Reading vs. eReading

2012-01-17T01:08:00.000+01:00

Lately it seems like everything is "going digital." Almost all of my favorite magazines offer subscriptions through eReaders or eReading apps, books release to Kindle and Nook within days of releasing in paper form, and I have read more than one article debating whether eReaders are a prelude to the demise of the printed word. It's a book eat eBook (and tablet eat Kindle) world out there, guys. The race is on to create the cheapest, most versatile, slimmest and most efficient tablet/eReader, and it sometimes seems as if paper books are being left in the dust.

I'm not quite sure how to feel about all this. I grew up with books. Real books. The kind with bright covers and crisp pages that whisper together as you turn them. They had dust jackets and dog eared corners and worn edges from being passed around to friends, family and neighbors. Over the years I have accumulated more books than I can count (four full cases in my home, and 12+ boxes in storage from childhood). I have a deep rooted love of books, and each and every one I own feels like an old friend.

On the other hand, I have more books than I can count. My collection is heavy, takes up vast amounts of space, and is beyond difficult to move. I always have a book with me, and, when traveling, this is impractical. Paper books are clunky and heavy, and it seems like all my favorites are ridiculously thick. Because of these inconveniences, I've become a proud Kindle owner.

Despite my attachment to old-fashioned printed books, I love my Kindle. It's light. It's sleek, small and stylish. It was reasonably priced. It has an extraordinary battery life -- up to a whole month on a single charge! And best of all, most eBooks cost considerably less than newly released hardbacks. I've read around thirty eBooks on my Kindle, and I was surprised how natural and comfortable it felt. Since the screen isn't back-lit, its easy on the eyes, and most of my eBooks feature all the same embellishments and unique fonts as their paper counterparts. I am eternally grateful that I can accumulate new reading material without an even bigger mass paper to lug around for the rest of my life.

However, I am by no means returning my library card, or letting go of my paper books in lieu of digital copies. I still purchase paper copies of new favorites, and I cannot imagine reading a magazine in any form other than in its original paper binding. Half the fun of a magazine is physically flipping through the pages, and nothing will ever replace the feeling of snuggling up on the sofa with a real book in my hands on a lazy afternoon. Beyond emotional attachment, printed words have a sense of permanence, a certain stability, that digital text lacks. Books have been around for ages, but how long can we hope to use our eReaders before newer, better technology is developed? My Kindle (much like my old iPod mini) has a shelf life that's only valid until something shinier comes along. While I hope I'll be able to transfer my Kindle library onto whatever newfangled device I next acquire, I'm not taking any chances: my paper copies are here to stay.

[This video says it best: "There's nothing quite like a real book."]

So, will eReading eventually phase out the printed word? I sure hope not. I am pleased as punch that our tech saavy world spewed out eReaders, but for me, the printed word holds too many memories to be idly tossed aside.

Where do you stand on the Reading vs. eReading debacle?

Mondays with Brinks #16

2012-01-16T08:00:00.000+01:00

Awe, look! It's Brinks as a little bitty baby poochkin...

I dug this one out of the archives for your viewing pleasure. How stinkin' precious was he??

But it's not like he isn't cute now...

Cause he is. He totally is.

Wanna see another cute pup? Head on over to Harbor Cottage.
Then pop in at Randomly, Robyn to visit Scout's Mancat Monday.

Surviving Night Shifts

2012-01-15T23:50:00.000+01:00

A few things that keep me happy enough to survive Kyle's never ending night shifts:

1) A new work space.

2) Finally having organized all the photos we've accumulated since I came to Germany (600+).

3) Late night baking.

4) Grooveshark -- to keep the house from feeling so silent.

5) Having my True Blood marathon interrupted by Brinkles and his cuteness.

6) Snuggling with the poochkin.

New Year's Un-Resolutions: 2012 Edition

2012-01-11T20:04:00.000+01:00

Last year I came up with six clear, reasonable goals that I wanted to accomplish in 2011. (They were NOT resolutions. Resolutions are those silly statements people make on New Year's Eve and then forget about the next day.) Happily, I've completed five of them, and the one goal left by the wayside was only abandoned because of circumstances out of my control. Pretty darn spiffy work, if I do say so myself. So with last year's success, how could I not make a new set of goals for 2012?

1) Teach Brinks tricks. Now, don't go imagining anything crazy. I'm just talking about basic commands...like "sit," and "stay," and, "roll over," and "play dead." And maybe, if I'm feeling ambitious, I'll try to get him to dance in a circle on his back legs on cue. (He sometimes does this spontaneously, and it's the cutest thing I've ever seen.)

[Trier image source]

2) Go to Cologne and Trier, and take at least one overnight vacation with husband. Last year I accomplished my goal of seeing Paris. This year I'm making my travel goals a little more challenging. Cologne and Trier have been sitting on my "to see" list for too long. They need to be checked off. But the real challenge will be finding the time to take a decent vacation with Kyle. What with his constantly changing schedule, we can barely go out to dinner together, let alone take a trip. However, I'm determined to make it happen. We need a break from this tiny little Army post.

3) Be a better pen pal. (Sorry, Stasie!) I crossed "find a pen pal" off my bucket list ages ago, but I am terrible at keeping up with letters. It might have something to do with the post office being so far away...but that's not an excuse. In 2012, I am making it my mission to answer all letters within a week of arrival. With no exceptions.

4) Be more active. As a housewife, it's easy to become lethargic. Being away from all things familiar, it's even easier. But it's out of character for me to stay shut in my own apartment as much as I have been lately. Maybe it's just the homesickness getting to me...or maybe it's the colder weather these days... Whatever the reason it has to end. Each week of 2012 I want work out at least twice, and have at least one outing with a friend. No more hiding out. It's not good for the soul. (Or my skinny jeans.)

[buttercream image source]

5) Master Italian Buttercream. The last (and only) time I attempted buttercream frosting, it kicked my butt. I've been too afraid to try it since. This year, no matter how many eggs I waste, I WILL make perfect Italian Buttercream. Even if it kills me.

6) Read another fifty books. Last year I challenged myself to read fifty books (documented on Goodreads) and I exceded my goal (56!). I want to do that again. But this year, I want at least ten of those fifty books to be non-fiction. You know, for substance. So I'll take any recomendations you can throw my way.

Do you make resolutions?
If so, what are they?
And did you keep any of last year's?

Schwetzingen Palace and Gardens

2012-01-10T12:00:00.000+01:00

view of the residential part of the palace from the gardens in back

On our way to Speyer last week, my friends and I stopped in Schwetzingen to tour the palace and its immense gardens. It was gorgeous, but I can't wait to go back in the spring or summertime when the fountains are working and the flowers are in bloom. It must be fantastic! Unfortunately, cameras weren't allowed inside the palace (which was also beautiful, preserved/restored to 18th century rococo style), so the following photos are all taken from outside and in the gardens.

The front of the palace was being restored.

The tour encompassed the personal living areas of the palace (which, although very large, was only a summer home), and was given in German. However, we were provided with transcripts of the information given and could follow along easily enough. After about an hour of wandering through 18th century powder rooms, parlors and studies, we were allowed to walk through the gardens on our own. The gardens are massive! Since we were only passing through on our way to Speyer, we didn't even walk all the way through before it was time for us to leave.

The tour and garden admission was 7 euro (a bargain!), and we were told that in the tourist season tours are also given in English. You can visit the palace website here for the palace's history and information about hours, pricing and special events.

Mondays with Brinks #15

2012-01-09T11:33:00.000+01:00

The laziest poochkin in the world, taking his third nap of the day.
Be sure to pop over to Harbor Cottage to see another precious pup!

Speyer Cathedral and Downtown Area

2012-01-08T17:32:00.000+01:00

Last Friday a few friends and I drove down to Speyer to see the Cathedral and do some shopping. (We also made a stop in Schwetzingen to tour the palace and gardens, but that's another post.) The weather wasn't at it's greatest, but we still had a great time and managed to get a few good photos. The town was still all dressed up for Christmas -- lights still strung and trees still adorned. There was even a Christmas Market in full swing for Three Kings Day, and I was more than happy to munch on one last steak sandwich for this holiday season.

Fun facts: Construction on the cathedral began in 1030, at the bequest of Emperor Conrad II, and took 80 years to complete. Measuring 133 meters in length, it is the largest example of Romanesque architecture in Germany. If you're interested in the cathedral's history, you can read about it here and here.

Happy January!

2012-01-07T00:35:00.003+01:00

fireworks from New Year's Eve

Mondays with Brinks #14

2011-12-20T22:30:00.002+01:00

Posted on Tuesday. Failure.

But just look at that grin! (And then forgive me.)

[Angie @ Harbor Cottage]

Mondays with Brinks #13

2011-12-12T13:54:00.002+01:00

How could anyone resist that "play with me" face?
[click to see another cute puppy]
[for photos of a pretty precious kitty, click here]

Nearly Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

2011-12-09T12:18:00.000+01:00

It might not be the best photo in the world, but don't let that fool you. This soup is awesome. I put a few shortcuts in the recipe, so it only takes about thirty minutes to get this soup from "stack of stuff in the fridge" to "piping hot and ready to go." Try it. You'll never give Campbell's a second glance again.

Nearly Homemade Chicken Noodle

(serves 4)

2 tbsp olive oil

4 large carrots, diced

1/2 medium onion, very finely chopped

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

4 cups low sodium chicken broth (I used 1 box, Swanson brand)

2 cups cooked chicken, shredded (I used 1/2 a rotisserie chicken)

egg noodles, to taste (I used 1/2 bag of whole wheat egg noodles)

In a large saucepan or small dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Throw in the carrots, and let them cook for about five minutes, occasionally giving them a toss. Then add in the onions, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Toss everything around, and let it cook for another 5 minutes. Pour in the broth, increase the heat to medium high, and bring it to a boil, stirring occasionally. Add the chicken and egg noodles, and continue boiling until the noodles are done (about ten minutes).

Serve it up with a grilled cheese, pb&j, or even a baguette, if you're feeling fancy.

I see the moon. The moon sees me.

2011-12-08T01:36:00.000+01:00

I see the moon. The moon sees me.

The moon sees somebody that I don't see.
God bless the moon. God bless me.
God bless the somebody that I don't see.
If I get to heaven before you do,
I'll make a hole and pull you through.
I'll write your name on every star.
That way the world won't seem so far.

-Sarah Kay

Mannheim Christmas Market

2011-12-06T17:53:00.000+01:00

The Christmas Market fun continued last night when we explored the market in downtown Mannheim. Everything was so gorgeous! Here, have a look:

Wandering markets aglow with lights and filled with laughter, browsing for gifts, sampling treats and sipping hot cocoa...I could do this all year long. These markets need to become traditional in the states before we move back!

What's your favorite part of the holidays?

Gingerbread Men

2011-12-06T11:53:00.000+01:00

In addition to all the awesome food, I also purchased my first set of cookie cutters at the Christmas Market. That could only mean one thing: It was time to find a good gingerbread recipe. This one is super easy and delicious, and the dough can be made well in advance. This recipe makes anywhere from 1 1/2 to 3 dozen, depending on the size of your cookie cutter. Mine is about five inches tall, and I got 16 cookies out of the dough.

Gingerbread Men

(adapted from Joy of Baking)

3 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup granulated white sugar
1 egg
2/3 cup unsulphured molasses

In a large bowl, cream the butter, egg, sugar, molasses, spices, salt and baking soda. Add flour one cup at a time, and mix until well combined. Turn dough onto a well floured surface. Divide in half. Pat each half into a round disk, and wrap each disk tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least two hours, or overnight.

After chilling the dough, preheat oven to 350 degrees, and grease (or line with parchment paper) two baking sheets. Flour a work surface and rolling pin generously. Working with one disk of dough at a time, roll dough into a circle about 1/4 inch thick, and begin to cut your cookies. Transfer them to the prepared baking sheets with a spatula. Reform any remaining dough into a disk, and roll it out again to repeat the process. When all the dough is used, do the same with the second disk.

Cookies should bake 8-10 minutes, until they are just beginning to brown around the edges. Do not overcook! Overcooked gingerbread is tough as bricks. Cool cookies 2-3 minutes on the cookie sheet before transferring to a wire rack. When completely cooled, decorate as desired.

Simple Confectioners Frosting

(makes 2 1/2 cups)

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

2 cups confectioners sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 tbsp milk

Optional:

food coloring, 1-2 drops of any color

Cream together ingredients with an electric mixer, and spoon into a pastry bag with a small tip, or a ziplock bag with a very small hole cut in one of the bottom corners. Pipe frosting onto cooled gingerbread men as desired.

Heidelberg Christmas Market

2011-12-05T16:11:00.000+01:00

Last Saturday we took the tram to Heidelberg to browse the Christmas Market with some friends and their munchkins...erm...I mean kids. Heidelberg's month-long holiday market is exceptionally large, covering five squares of the old downtown area. Booths sporting Christmas decor, handmade crafts, pottery, and novelties line the streets, and the whole city seems to be glowing with Christmas lights. Of course, there are tons of vendors offering tasty treats as well. I sampled more than my share, among which was a hot steak and onion sandwich, a paper cone of "pommes" (fries), organic dried apple chips, warm candied cashews, and a skewer of chocolate covered grapes (they were better than you'd think). There was even a carousel and a miniature train ride for the kiddies. The trip was a lot of fun, and well worth the hour of travel. I can't wait to peruse a few more markets this year.

(The munchkins slept through most of the tram ride.)

(Heidelberg Castle, illuminated, from a bridge near the market.)

(Kind of blurry, but this one captured the storybook colors well.)

(So many teapots!!)

(I purchased my apple chips from this adorable little bakery. Everything inside was both organic and vegan, as well as locally produced. It was also pretty darn scrumptious.)

(These giant star lamps were everywhere! So pretty!)

(I'm not sure of the story or tradition behind German Christmas windmills, but they're gorgeous.

Traditional Gluwein was sold beneath this gigantic one.)

(Beautiful, but expensive!)

(This teensy tea set was precious, but at 20euro, a little too sweet for my tastes...)

(We took a break for crepes. Seriously, who can resist?)

(The ice cream shop where we bought our crepes was adorable.
I especially love that chandelier!)

Mondays with Brinks #12

2011-12-05T10:00:00.000+01:00

Look at that teensy bit of tongue poking out. And the sparkle in those eyes. And all that crazy fluff. It's too much cuteness. Too much I say! (But for even more Monday Puppy cuteness, head over to Harbor Cottage.)

Oh, Christmas Tree, Oh, Christmas Tree

2011-12-04T12:01:00.001+01:00

We finally bought our first real tree! It's much more impressive than last years cardboard creation, for sure.

We found this little guy (above) in a Kinder Egg.

Is it beginning to look a lot like Christmas around your homes, too?

A Very Merry Christmas to Me

2011-11-30T22:17:00.001+01:00

So, I got a new camera for early-Christmas. (Thank you, Husband!) And it can do things like this:

I took the above photo from my open living room window, without even using my new baby's full 35x zooming capabilities. We're in a love-love relationship, me and my Canon SX40 HS. Yes, indeed. I can't wait to take it out for a real test drive downtown. And the over-a-month wait for my snazzy new gift to make its way though the notoriously slow-as-molasses Army mail? Yeah, it was totally worth it.

Mondays with Brinks #11

2011-11-28T20:22:00.001+01:00

He is too stinkin' cute for his own good. One of these days I'll squeeze him until he pops. You know who else is cute? Angie! You should hop on over to Harbor Cottage and see what she's up to this Monday. ;)

Turkey Day 2011

2011-11-24T21:26:00.001+01:00

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

I hope your holiday was as much fun (and filled with as much great food) as ours was. Now, stop reading my blog, and go have some more turkey.

Mondays with Brinks #10

2011-11-21T16:19:00.001+01:00

It's a very lazy sort of Monday around these parts.

Head on over to Harbor Cottage to see another adorable pup.

Mondays with Brinks #9

2011-11-14T18:33:00.001+01:00

Happy Monday!

Pop on over to Harbor Cottage for another dose of cute puppiness!

Just Desserts, Take 2 (The Recipes)

2011-11-13T18:23:00.001+01:00

Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

(makes 1 13x9 pan, about 12 cookie bars)

1 cup sugar
1 cup white corn syrup
1 cup peanut butter
4-5 cups rice krispies cereal

In a large pan, bring sugar and syrup to a slow boil. Immediately remove from heat and stir in the peanut butter. When combined, add cereal until desired thickness is reached. Pour the mixture into a 13x9 in pan, and press to form a flat top. Cool, then slice into bars to serve.

Molasses Cookies

(makes about 3 dozen)

3/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 cup sugar

1. In a large bowl, combine butter, 1 cup sugar, egg, molasses, baking soda, salt, ginger and cinnamon. Add flour gradually. Cover dough, and refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour.

2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Roll dough into one inch balls, and roll in 1/2 cup sugar to coat. Place two inches apart on a cookie sheet, and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until tops appear crackled.

Snickerdoodle Cookies

(click to be redirected to the recipe in a previous post)

Mondays with Brinks #8

2011-11-09T21:55:00.004+01:00

Happy...Wednesday?

Please forgive the delay. German internet issues.

As always, drop in at Harbor Cottage to see what Angie is up to.

Post #374: In Which Husband Gets a Promotion

2011-11-04T10:50:00.001+01:00

Alas, every single photo came out fuzzy. But it was a fantastic day, and I couldn't be more proud.

Autumn in Germany

2011-11-03T20:31:00.001+01:00

Mondays with Brinks #7

2011-10-31T10:58:00.000+01:00

Happy Halloween!

Pop on over to Harbor Cottage to see what Angie is up to.

Just Desserts, Take 2

2011-10-29T16:55:00.000+02:00

Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats, Snickerdoodles, and Molasses Cookies.

We take Halloween sweets seriously in this family.

(recipes to follow)

Mondays with Brinks #6

2011-10-24T23:56:00.000+02:00

(The things he does when he thinks no one is watching...)

Happy Monday!

Don't forget to pop over to Harbor Cottage for another cute puppy pic!

Just Desserts

2011-10-19T19:11:00.003+02:00

I had a lot of free time last week. I spent most of it baking. These apple dumplings are a new favorite. They're super easy to make, and taste like a million bucks...if a million bucks were wrapped in cresent rolls and smothered in a sugary mess of goodness. You can find the recipe here.

This blackberry cobbler might not look so hot in my crappy photo, but it makes my "Top Ten Foods I've Ever Tasted" list for sure. It was also super easy. I recommend you make it. I recommend you make it now. Here's how:

Blackberry Cobbler

(makes 1 9x9 cobbler)

3 cups fresh or frozen blackberries
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 cup milk
1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted
1 tbsp cornstarch
3/4 cup boiling water

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees, and place berries in a 9 inch square pan.

2. In a medium bowl, mix together 3/4 cup sugar, flour, baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt. Add the milk and melted butter and mix well. Pour the batter evenly over the berries.

3. In a small bowl, mix the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, cornstarch, and 1/2 tsp salt. Sprinkly evenly over batter.
4. Evenly pour the boiling water all over. Bake for 50 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbling.

NOTE: If you use frozen berries, the bake time will be longer.

Mondays with Brinks #5

2011-10-17T20:28:00.003+02:00

Happy Monday!

Don't forget to stop by and visit Angie at Harbor Cottage!

Brinks has a message for you.

2011-10-16T12:22:00.000+02:00

Dad came home!!

Things to do when your husband disappears for a week:

2011-10-12T14:34:00.004+02:00

1. Take your legwarmers for their first adventure.

2. Buy a new teapot.

3. Make a blackberry cobbler. (Recipe to come.)

4. Get all dressed up for no apparent reason.

5. Let a rabbit explore your house.

6. Realize that your dog is so fluffy you can't see his eyes.

7. Find a friend for said fluff muffin, and puppysit. (Everyone, this is Clyde. Clyde, this is everyone. Clyde is staying with us until Friday.)

Mondays with Brinks #4

2011-10-10T14:11:00.001+02:00

Brinks misses his dad today. (And maybe I do a little bit too.) Can you tell?

Don't forget to visit Kelsey and Angie over at Harbor Cottage today for more cute puppy photos!

PS -- Can you believe how teensy Brinks was when we first brought him home?
I just can't get over how much smaller he is in that first photo than in the
more recent ones!

Barnaby Bunny and Brinksy Boy to the Rescue

2011-10-08T03:19:00.001+02:00

After a full week of working 14 hour days, husband left in the wee hours of Saturday morning for training in the ever-mysterious "field." He is beyond excited to run around playing a really intense game of lazer tag (I kid, kinda, a little bit) with his friends for six nights and seven days. I'm beyond miserable. What with our post being in the process of shutting down, this place already feels like a ghost town and I dread feeling even more alone than I already do. Plus, it's no fun taking out the trash myself. That is not my chore, I tell you!

It doesn't help that this short goodbye brings back all too vivid memories of the other, longer, more awful ones. It also doesn't help that I know without a doubt that this won't be the last goodbye by a longshot.

But anyway.

There is one good thing about this week. And his name is Barnaby Rockjaw Kindred. And he is our new bunny. And, oh, is he precious!

At first Brinks was confused. He growled with disdain, thinking he was being replaced. Am I not cute enough, Mom?? he whined, sadly.

But then we told him: "But Brinksy, don't you see? This is your pet." And after some intense sniffing from both parties involved, Brinks licked Barnaby square on the nose, and now they're best of friends. For real.

Kyle approves of Barnaby as well. Mostly because he picked the middle name. But also because Barnaby (who is two years old) comes to us pre-litter trained, and his food is cheap. And maybe a little because he's fluffy and cute, but don't tell him I said so.

Barnaby and I are thick as thieves. This little guy knows full well who gives him his foodstuffs. Plus, he's fluffy. Just in case you didn't notice. I mean, with all this puppy/bunny cuteness going on, maybe I'll even survive until Friday.

Our New Home, Take 2: The Library

2011-10-06T18:22:00.000+02:00

I get so many comments about my books whenever they pop up in the background of a photo that I decided to dedicate a whole post to them. I reorganized the shelves today, which provided the perfect excuse to start photographing.

Things started out very messy.

Luckily I had a helper.

A couple hours of alphabetizing, shuffling, and breaks to play fetch later, things looked like this:

Come closer...

Closer...

Take a gander at the "to be read" shelves.

Note that some of my Harry Potters are so worn I had to buy a second copy.

Admire the decor.

Thumb through Kyle's two shelves.

Flip through a magazine.

If you're feeling ambitious, try and decode some of this little beauty.

Then check out my autographed copies.

So whatcha think? I'm pretty impressed with it, myself.

Today has been a foodish sort of day.

2011-10-04T18:50:00.002+02:00

In the wee hours of the morning I was up making just over three dozen assorted muffins for husband to take to work (let's just say it's a long day) and share with his friends. The light ones are banana with chocolate chips, and the dark ones are double chocolate. There were also some blueberry, not pictured.

Then I made these beauties: Peanut Butter Nutella Brownies. They're delicious, but rich enough to melt your teeth.

And last but not least, dinner tonight was the best chicken parmigiana I've ever tasted. Ever. In my entire life. You'd better believe I licked that plate clean. I recommend you make it soon, and then think of ten thousand excuses to keep making it.

Want some recipes?

Autumn Has Arrived

2011-10-03T17:51:00.001+02:00

Really the Americans are delusional (with all due respect) in calling this "fall" when it's so clearly an ascension. A climb into one's own skin, into layers of clothing, into routine and those sparkling mornings.

-- Iida

Autumn burned brightly, a running flame through the mountains, a torch flung to the trees.
-- Faith Baldwin

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.

--Albert Camus

There is a harmony
In autumn, and a lustre in its sky,
Which through the summer is not heard or seen,
As if it could not be, as if it had not been!
-- Percy Bysshe Shelley

Everything is exploding with color here, even though the heat is still scorching. Brinks and I enjoyed our walk immensely. I wouldn't mind a bit if things went on like this forever -- blue skies, puffy clouds, golden leaves, and warmth. It's perfect.

Mondays with Brinks #3

2011-10-03T06:15:00.000+02:00

This week on Mondays with Brinks: playtime with our puppy-cake. (We call him all sorts of strange things. But that's another post.)

(biiiig puppy yawn, just before he crashed for a nap)

Don't forget to visit Kelsey and Angie at Harbor Cottage, too! Link up in the comments if you want to join our weekly puppy photo challenge!

Happy Weekend! (Dinner with Friends)

2011-10-02T00:46:00.000+02:00

(My first real drink!)

Someday

2011-09-30T18:25:00.000+02:00

Home is central to one's life, primarily emotional, and partially physical. It is an environment offering affection and security. The house a woman creates is a Utopia.

--Marguerite Duras

So I bought some awesome legwarmers...

2011-09-29T21:51:00.002+02:00

...and two gorgeous necklaces...

...and then I chopped off all my hair.

Whatcha think?

Mondays with Brinks #2

2011-09-26T18:57:00.001+02:00

This is what happens when Brinks sees a camera these days:

He chuckles to himself even as I type.

If you want to see another adorable puppy, who's much better behaved, I'm sure, head over to Harbor Cottage to visit Kelsey's precious pug, Angie.

Who else has a puppy they want to show off? Post a pic, title it "Mondays with [insert puppy name]," and link up with the name of your pup below!

Snickerdoodle Cookies

2011-09-25T19:13:00.002+02:00

In the wee hours of Saturday morning, my facebook status was quoted to say, "It's 4:46am and suddenly I've decided I can't live one more minute without Snickerdoodle cookies. You know what that means...MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT BAKING!!! Boy oh boy." Less than an hour later, this photo hit the web:

My oven cranked out a little over five dozen of these babies, and nearly all of them have been devoured. One dozen went to work with Kyle (who has made a habit of distributing my baked goods), another dozen went to a friend, and about fifteen (give or take ten) have been consumed in this household. I blame Brinks. Husband has plans to take another set with him on shift tonight, and I don't think what's leftover will last until he comes home. I blame Brinks again.

Want some? Make some! They're easier than easy. They're cake...er...you know what I mean.

Snickerdoodle Cookies

(makes 2-3 dozen, depending on cookie size)

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup butter, unsalted, softened

1/2 cup shortening (I like butter flavored)

2 large eggs

2 3/4 cups self rising flour

1/3 cup sugar

3-4 tsp cinnamon, or to taste

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Cream together sugar, butter, shortening, and eggs. Add flour gradually, and mix until smooth and well combined.

3. In a small bowl, mix sugar and cinnamon well.

4. Roll dough into balls (about one inch), and then roll in cinnamon sugar mixture to coat.

5. Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased, non-stick cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes. Don't overbake! These won't darken much.

6. Cool on wire racks or a flat surface, if you're patient enough for that sort of thing.

Civilian vs. Military Friends

2011-09-23T21:40:00.000+02:00

Way back in 2009 when Kyle left for BCT, I read every article and blog about military life that I could get my hands on to try and prepare for the long road ahead. Amid the heartwrenching stories and advice columns I came across a blog post about the differences between friends made in the military and civilian "worlds." Try as I might I can't find this blog now, but the gist was this: Once you're in the military life, your friends from the civilian world just don't cut it anymore. They don't understand your life and problems the way other military wives will. I've seen the sentiment echoed time and time again, and during my first year as an Army wife I've realized that this is both a very true, and astonishingly false statement.

When I first made the "big move" from Kentucky to Germany, I didn't know anyone here. It took me months to connect with the three "Army friends" I have now. This is partially because I don't go leaping out of my box willingly, and partially because Army wives have a tendency to separate into very defined cliques, and they don't welcome just anybody into their circle. But eventually I found a few women with similar interests and personalities, and because we face the same Army-related challenges, we bonded instantly in a way that is completely foreign to people outside the military. The three of us can talk about the frustrations of our husbands' jobs, the way it feels to be so far from our families, and the difficulties of living in a foreign country, and know without a doubt that the person listening understands, because she is in the same position. Try as they might, civilian friends cannot know how it feels when your husband tells you he might be deploying, or understand why he can't just "take off a couple days" at work so that you can be home for Christmas. How can they, when they've never experienced anything even remotely similar? Plus, there is the added struggle with military lingo to deal with. It's hard to have a decent conversation when you have to pause every thirty seconds to break down an acronym, or explain what a PX is. The sudden change from leading a "normal" life to filling the gigantic shoes of an Army wife is overwhelming, and sometimes it feels like your civilian friends just can't keep up.

However, after the initial relief of finding a person with whom you can rant about the many stresses of military life wears off, you start to realize the major differences between the relationships with these new friends and your old ones. While you bond instantly with a fellow military wife, the bond doesn't run nearly as deep as the one you share with your civilian friends. The civilian friends you keep are your best friends. Whether you grew up together, or you met in college, they're people who know you inside and out. They remember your birthday, know your favorite color, can order for you at your favorite restaraunts, and can sense from a thousand miles away when you need to be told "everything will be okay." Even when they don't "get it," they get you, and that's important, because in the military life, things change often and fast, and it's nice to be reminded that underneath the acronyms and heaps of camoflage, you're still you, a person with thoughts, dreams, and feelings that are completely independent of your husband's job. And most of the time, your military friends can't do that, because the part of you they bonded with is the part that's drowning in Army gear.

So whenever Kyle's work schedule is changed for the third time in two weeks, killing our weekend plans again, I send a message to a fellow MP-wife, and we plan a trip to the mall and talk things out over smoothies. And when I remember that I'm two years behind in my college degree and have a mental meltdown, I call up one of my besties back home, who patiently remind me that in the end, a diploma is a diploma, and if I'd stayed in Kentucky I'd have been miserable without my awesome husband. More and more I'm seeing comparisons between military and civilian friends online, and I can't help but think they're unfair. One set can never hope to replace the other. Between my two sets of friends, I have enough support to get me through just about anything. There's room for both sets of friends in my life. In fact, I'd say that they're both necessary.

(I'd love to hear what my mili-spouse readers have to say on this topic!)

Return to Heidelberg Castle

2011-09-21T01:26:00.000+02:00

Due to a schedule change (stupid Army) we nixed the Cologne trip and instead made a quick drive to Heidelberg to snap a few more photos of the castle. I wasn't really satisfied with the ones from my first visit. These turned out much better, and the time with husband was a pretty great birthday gift, even if it did come a few days late (stupid Army).

Mondays with Brinks # 1

2011-09-19T22:07:00.001+02:00

Brinks asks that you please note that he is King of the Couch, protector and ruler of all adjacent territories. I ask that you note that he has doubled in size since he was first featured here.

Need more puppy cuteness? Go visit Kelsey and her sweet little pug, Angie, at Harbor Cottage. We're teaming up for a weekly photo challenge.

Want to join in? Make a post featuring your own cute pup, title it "Mondays with (Insert Name)" and then link up!

Kid (or Picky Husband) Friendly Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

2011-09-13T13:42:00.000+02:00

We have a terrible habit of leaving bananas to waste away on the counter. Sunday I decided I couldn't let the last three wilting bananas go uneaten, so I whipped up a loaf of chocolate chip banana bread. My original recipe calls for chopped pecans, but my picky husband doesn't like them, so I threw in chocolate chips instead. It turned out fantastic. Next time I think I'll try it with some berries.

No sooner had I posted a facebook update detailing the contents of my oven than Kyle announced that his fellow MPs wanted bread brought to shift. Don't you know he carted off half the loaf? Alas. But it's nice to be appreciated, and the bananas are no longer lurking in the kitchen, so I'm not complaining.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

(makes one loaf)

2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter (unsalted), softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 large (or 3 smaller) overripe bananas, mashed
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Combine all dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add wet ingredients one at a time, mixing between. Fold in chocolate chips.

3. Scrape batter into a greased loaf pan and bake until golden (and tests clean with a toothpick), about 50-55 minutes.

4. Cool in pan for 10 minutes before turning onto your serving tray. Cool completely before slicing.

Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

2011-09-12T20:15:00.001+02:00

I had intended to hold off on posting the recipe for these cupcakes until Thursday...and then I tried one. These are hands down the best cupcakes I've ever eaten. (And *does happy dance* I made them.) The cake is moist and full of flavor, the frosting is sweet and creamy, and the fresh berries on top add an incredible tartness. The original recipe came from gas•tron•o•my, but I swapped out the original strawberry frosting with one of my own.

There was quite a bit of frosting left over, but since the cream cheese is the prevalent flavor, I reserved it to use as a bagel topping.

Strawberry Cupcakes

(makes 12)

1 cup strawberries, fresh or frozen, thawed

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 egg

2 egg whites

extra strawberries for garnishing

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 12 muffin cups with cup cake liners.

2. Puree strawberries, set aside.

3. Cream together butter and sugar with an electric mixer. Add egg, egg whites, vanilla, and milk. Add flour, 1/2 cup at a time. Add salt and baking powder. Add berry puree last.

4. Fill liners and bake for 23-25 minutes, until cupcakes test done with a toothpick.

5. Cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.

6. Top each cupcake with fresh strawberry slices.

NOTE: Be sure to keep these refrigerated!

Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

(makes 3-4 cups)

1/2 cup strawberries, fresh or frozen, thawed

1 8 oz. package cream cheese

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 pinch salt

2-3 cups confectioners sugar

1. Puree strawberries, set aside.

2. Cream together butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer.

3. Add vanilla, salt, and about 3 tablespoons of puree. Blend well. Chill about 15 minutes before using.

How Far We've Come

2011-09-11T03:26:00.000+02:00

Dear Kyle,

Do you remember where we began? Three years ago?

I was a teenage girl in faded jeans with big dreams and an open heart. And you.
You were a dream -- completely unattainable in every way, but so far beyond compare that I couldn't help but stretch myself a l-i-t-t-l-e b-i-t further.

So one night, on a porch swing surrounded by warm summer darkness, a boy said "I'm in love with you now." And a girl said, "Do you promise?"

And you took my hand and kissed it and held it like something so fragile.

He handed her a bottle. "You've never had an Ale-8?" She said, "nope," and drank every last drop...and never said she hated it.

Afterward you drove me through town in your car, the sunshine pouring through the windows and the empty bottles clinking in the floor with every turn.

For a while, we were so free. I cut my hair short and you skipped classes, and we walked hand in hand through the falling leaves and starlight and snowflakes. And one day, as we sat in your driveway, you called me an angel.

Sometimes I wish we could go back to dorm rooms and midnight drives and movies and...do you remember? The way it felt? The way you looked at me? The way we had the same thoughts, the way we laughed?

Do you remember? The day you told me you were leaving?

We sat in your room and the world fell apart. I thought you were saying goodbye.

"Five months?"
"Yes."
"And then what?"
"It's a five year contract."
"...where?"
"I don't know."
But then you said, "You could come with me. Would you?"
And there was hope.

There are so many goodbyes in our story, each one more painful than the last. Just one more hug, and one more kiss, and can that really be the last one? Hold me tight just one second longer...and then one of us would walk away while the other watched.

He looked at her and smiled. "You're just going home. You'll be with your friends in a few hours. You're coming back." She looked at him and her face crumpled. "I know." "Come here, let me hug you again before you have a heart attack." It never got any easier. "You'll have to go or I won't be able to leave."

And here we are.

I came back, and you drove a borrowed truck to the airport to meet me. The snow was a foot deep and I was wearing a dress. We spilled the luggage cart twice and I couldn't feel my toes, and still I couldn't stop laughing. My nose was red from sneezing, but you told me I was beautiful. We came home to a barren apartment, with our awful air mattress, paper plates and disfunctional television, and I spun around in dizzy circles on the spotless hardwood until you caught me. And in an unfamiliar place, without a single one of my possessions or even a pan to warm Ramen noodles in, I'd never felt more at home.

Do you remember?

Sometimes I forget that all the hard things really happened. I forget how extraordinary it is that we survived on nothing but letters and faith. I forget how very far we've come, because some days we feel so very much like we did before. When we were teenagers, and we'd never been torn apart.

I'm really glad we made it.

I love you,
Carrie

(previous letters)

Foolproof Peanut Butter Cookies

2011-09-10T18:08:00.002+02:00

This is the recipe for my all time favorite peanut butter cookies. It comes straight from my mom's kitchen, and it's foolproof. I have never made a batch of these that came out tasting anything less than excellent. These cookies stay soft and chewy, and the dough can easily be made in advance and frozen.

Mom's Peanut Butter Cookies

(makes 3 dozen)

1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup smooth peanut butter

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups self rising flour

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together all ingredients except flour. Add the flour to the mixture 1/2 cup at a time.

3. Spoon dough by the heaping teaspoonful onto a greased baking sheet, keeping cookies 2 inches apart.

4. Roll each mound of dough into a ball, and press each gently with a fork both horizontally and vertically to make the indented, checked pattern on top.

5. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Cool on cookie sheet 3-5 minutes before transferring to a serving dish.

Fill in the Blanks Friday

2011-09-09T18:34:00.001+02:00

(more participants on Lauren's blog)

1. Somewhere someone is dancing around like a crazy person where no one else can see.

2. Tumblr is/are my muse.

3. It would suck if lemon lavender candles were no more because, then my poor house would always smell like baked goods, my second favorite.

4. Homemade peanut butter cookies is/are my favorite thing about today.

5. Life is kind of like Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans. Just when you think you have it all figured out..."Alas, Earwax."

6. If I could have anything I wanted I would want to get this trip home to Kentucky on the road already. I miss too many people.

7. A funny thing happened the other day... Yeah, I got nothing for this one.

Gumby's Pokey Sticks

2011-09-08T19:22:00.001+02:00

Erin over at Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts posted this recipe for Gumby's Pokey Sticks. I'd never even heard of Gumby's but I knew I had to give these cheesy bread sticks a try. They were fantastic. Husband and Brinks (yes, he is spoiled and gets tastes of just about everything) approve. I also stole her recipe for pizza sauce. I strongly recommend you make these for yourself.

Hi, I'm Carrie, and I Am a Teapot Fangirl

2011-09-07T15:26:00.002+02:00

So I have a thing for teapots. I can't pass a thrift store or antique shop without doing a quick run through to check for teapots lurking in dusty corners, and I have an annoying habit of scanning the backgrounds of movies and TV shows to try and catch a teapot hiding on a shelf. For example, note the teapots here:

There are also a lot of teapots hiding in the set of Desperate Housewives, and Alice: Madness Returns is a teapot addict's dream land. Just so you know. But that's not what this post is about. This post is about the two new teapots that came in the mail for my birthday. (Thank you, Courtney!!!)

Aren't they pretty? I love, love, LOVE them. My collection has grown so much! My first ever teapot was a little purple one I discovered in a second hand store in Kentucky, and since then I acquired a total of thirteen, plus one mini tea set from Polish Pottery.

Do you collect anything?

Fall must be on its way...

2011-09-06T19:11:00.000+02:00

This is how I know:

Monday Schmonday in Downtown Mannheim

2011-09-06T02:57:00.003+02:00

This month husband's weekends have been moved over one slot to Sunday and Monday, so today is the last day of our weekend. We spent it wandering through downtown Mannheim, having a fantastic lunch at Vapiano (again), enjoying my favorite origami themed fountain, and savoring some delicous ice cream from Vittoria Gelateria.

My Bucket List, Take 3: The Birthday Edition

2011-09-02T20:20:00.002+02:00

September marks the countdown to my birthday. (Thirteen days left!) This year we're celebrating by making a day trip to Cologne to cross a couple more items off my newly updated bucket list.

~~climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower~~
~~see the Mona Lisa~~
see the ocean on both coasts of the US
~~go bungee jumping~~
~~meet Stephenie Meyer~~
meet JK Rowling
publish my novel...and have it on the best-seller list
meet my great-grandchildren
save someone's life
bake a cake from scratch...from memory
~~have a library with super-tall bookcases~~
~~try sushi (it has more to do with being brave than with a desire to try the food)~~
see the northern lights
~~live in a city~~
~~solve my own problem~~
make a perfect score on every assignment in one class
~~fall asleep under the stars~~
read the Bible from cover to cover
learn to change the oil in my car
~~find a pen pal from another country (snail mail)~~
pet a zebra
travel in England, India, Mexico and Greece
~~go shopping and buy everything I want that day~~
run 5 miles without stopping, slowing, or tripping and falling
~~always color-code my closet~~
drive a race car
acquire a Hard Rock Cafe t-shirt from a foreign country
~~memorize the recipe for pancakes~~
stand at the edge of a volcano
learn to make home-made pasta
finish college, and then grad. school
submit a postcard to PostSecret
make my way through a cookbook Julie Powell style
leave a lock on the Hohenzollernbrucke

Have any of you been to Cologne?

Do you have suggestions for the day?

And who has a bucket list??

Leave links to your own bucket list in the comments below!

When You Give a Brinks a Bath: Before and After Edition

2011-09-01T13:25:00.002+02:00

Before:

Oh, hi there. I'm just hanging out in the tub, bein' all fluffy and such.

After:

WHAT IS THIS MADNESS?!?!?!?!

Sunday Slugday: The Random Tuesday Edition

2011-08-30T20:48:00.000+02:00

Today may be Tuesday, but Brinks and I are kickin' it Sunday Slugday style. We're lining up a marathon of Heroes Season Two while sipping strawberry banana smoothies like nobody's business. Want one?

Strawberry Banana Smoothies

(serves 2)

2 cups ice cubes

1 cup halved strawberries

1 whole banana, peeled and sliced

1/2 cup french vanilla low fat yogurt

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Serve immediately.

Kyle's Polish Sausage and Potatoes...with Carrie's Extra Junk Tossed In

2011-08-29T13:48:00.003+02:00

Kyle first made these potatoes for me last August just after we were married. I quickly discovered that I like them best with some onions and bell peppers tossed in the mix. Kyle thinks I'm crazy, but give it a try and jugde for yourself. It's a one dish dinner that couldn't be any easier to whip up.

Kielbasa and Potatoes

serves 4

2 tbsp butter

4 large potatoes, peeled and cut into uniform 1 inch pieces (you can also use 6-8 medium sized red potatoes with the skins intact, but note that these cook a bit slower)

1/2 tsp italian seasoning

1 tsp garlic salt

1 tsp black pepper

1/2 link of kielbasa, cut into 1/4 inch wide disks

1/2 large onion, cut into large bite-size petals (refer to photo)

1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces

water, as needed

1. Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Then add the potatoes and seasonings, tossing to evenly coat the potatoes. Allow to cook for about 5 minutes with constant supervision to ensure the potatoes don't stick to the pan.

2. Add some water to the pan (about 1/4 cup) along with the sausage disks. Toss to combine. The water will help ensure the potatoes and sausages do not stick to the pan. Cover and continue cooking for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to keep the mixture from sticking. Add small amounts of water as necessary.

3. Then throw in the onions and peppers, and continue cooking uncovered until the potatoes and vegetables are tender. (About 10-15 more minutes.) When the potatoes and veggies are tender, and the last of the water has cooked away, remove from heat and serve.

Brinksy Boy Turns Three Months Old Tomorrow...

2011-08-24T18:40:00.000+02:00

...and yet he is still shorter than the grass in our back yard. Alas.

Bonus! You can see what the apartment complexes here look like in the background of some of these. I feel like we live in identical rows of Monopoly Hotels. Except without collecting $200 every time we make a lap around post... Oh, if only.

10 Reasons Why Getting a Puppy is Like Having a Baby

2011-08-22T13:00:00.004+02:00

1.) Random strangers approach you with creepy smiles to ask how old your little one is. This has happened at least a dozen times since we brought Brinks home. It's uncanny. I get more questions about my dog than a friend with a three month old gets about her son. Two days ago our pizza delivery man saw Brinks and said, "So this is the little dog everyone at Pizza Point has been talking about!" You would think these people have never seen a small dog before. Alas, our puppy is a local celebrity.

2.) Puppies and babies both spend 70% of the day sleeping, and the other 30% demanding attention. I swear, if Brinks isn't passed out somewhere, he's whining. For my food. For more of his food. To be put on the sofa. To be let off the sofa. Because I'm in the shower and he thinks he's been abandoned. For me to play fetch with him and Fred the bunny. There is always something.

3.) You find yourself telling people how well behaved they are, even though they drive you nuts. "He never cries unless he needs something." But he needs something every five minutes. Refer to above.

4.) Both will poo in your bed. Diapers leak, and puppies can't hold it long enough for you to change out of your pajamas. I have done more laundry since getting Mr. Brinksy than I have in my entire life combined.

5.) Arduous potty training is required. What a facebook friend said about her daughter: "[name omitted] woke up and said she needed to pee so I was getting her diaper off to put her on the toilet and she peed all over the floor... As I was cleaning that mess up, she went in the living room and pooped on the floor!" What I said about Brinks: "Brinks woke me up barking to go outside. While finding his leash he peed in the kitchen. After taking him out (where he peed some more) I cleaned up the mess, only to discover him pooping in the living room. This house training is going no where."

6.) Both puppies and babies call forth the strange urge to speak in nonsensical "baby talk." Awe, who's a cutie? Who? Are you a wittle cutie? Um. I mean. Uh. Yeah, so how about you go chew your bone now. *cough*

7.) You feel the need to tell them that they're cute ten million times each day. After scolding Brinks for peeing in the house for the tenth time in one day: "Oh, but you're so CUTE though." After feeding Brinks a spaghetti noodle: "You're just so cute. I can't resist." After bathtime: "You make such a cute little rat."

8.) Both will massacre your budget. Total cost for Mr. Brinkles: $900. (That's almost the cost of an international flight, folks.) Plus food and bones and toys and vet bills for the REST OF HIS LIFE.

9.) Puppies and babies both develop annoying biting habits that must be broken early. Brinks' favorite chew toy? My fingers. Alas. (But he's so cute, though...)

10.) Preparing a baby to leave the house tacks at least half an hour onto your "getting ready" time...and so does a puppy. Preparing a baby: Diaper check, diaper bag check, clothing change, bottle prep. Preparing a puppy: Half an hour outside waiting for him to find an appropriate poo spot, a few minutes of puppy-proofing whichever room we plan to leave him in, about thirty seconds to refill his water bowl, and ten minutes to track down Fred the bunny (pictured below) for his chewing enjoyment.

Spaghetti with Tomato and Basil, Take 2

2011-08-21T18:10:00.002+02:00

Way back at the beginning of the month I posted about gas•tron•o•my's awesome spaghetti recipe. After making twice more, I have tweaked the recipe a bit, cutting the serving size down to 4 and experimenting with the portions of ingredients. This is what I've come up with, and I think it's pretty darn scrumptious.

Spaghetti with Homemade Tomato Sauce

(serves 4)

1/2 lbs dried spaghetti

1/4 cup olive oil

10 small tomatoes

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp italian seasoning

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese + extra for serving

1 tbsp butter

1) Peel and seed tomatoes.

2) Heat olive oil in a large pan until hot and slightly smoking.

3) Add tomatoes. Be careful! The oil will pop. Use the pan lid to shield yourself.

4) Add salt, pepper, seasoning, and pepper flakes. Then crush tomatoes with a potato masher until the sauce is only slightly chunky.

5) Cover and continue cooking on medium high heat for 20-25 minutes.

6) Meanwhile, bring a pan of salted water to a boil and cook spaghetti three quarters of the way done. (About 3-4 minutes.)

7) Drain pasta, reserving one cup of pasta water. Add pasta to tomato sauce, and cook until noodles reach desired tenderness. If the sauce is too thick, add a little of the reserved pasta water.

8) Add butter and cheese, stirring until melted and well mixed.

9) Remove from heat and serve immediately with extra parmesan.

Yum, yum, yum. Brinks even approves.

J'adore Paris (Part V)

2011-08-20T14:54:00.000+02:00

The Eiffel Tower kept popping up everywhere. Seeing glimpses of it down
alley ways and above buildings was probably the most surreal part of the entire trip.

J'adore Paris (Part I)

J'adore Paris (Part II)

J'adore Paris (Part III)

J'adore Paris (Part IV)

My trip to Paris was rounded off with a trip to The Louvre...sans camera, unfortunately. I'm almost relieved about it, though, because I know it would have been impossible to capture such an incredible place on film and do it justice. The building itself is something to marvel at, having served as the royal palace until 1682, when Louis XIV chose Versailles for his household. A few times I found myself distracted from the exhibits by beauty of a ceiling fresco.

(image source)

It has been said a million times that it is impossible to see The Louvre in a day, and it's true. We only made it through one wing in our two hour stop, and even that felt rushed. Walking through the exhibits I was surprised how many of them I recognized from my Art History courses -- it was a surreal experience, seeing things before me that I recognized my entire life through photographs alone. When we made our way to the Mona Lisa, I was more surprised by the crowd than the painting. There was practically a mosh pit of Louvre-goers, all pushing and nudging their way to the front, cameras held high. It's also been said a million times that the Mona Lisa is smaller than one would expect. Having heard that so often, I actually found it to be bigger than I imagined. The painting, frame included, is just a bit smaller than an average sized poster.

(photo via my friend Amber)

My favorite exhibits, however, were the Egyptian and Greek ones. I was amazed by a page from the Book of the Dead, shining Greek coins, and vases that looked like something straight out of Disney's Hercules.

(photo source)

Last but not least, here are my left over photos from last weekend:

Paris was everything I dreamt it would be, and I feel I've only experienced a tiny piece of it. I cannot wait to go back and see more. I want to browse the entire Louvre slowly, sample more of the amazing food, take the train out to Versailles, revisit the Arc du Triomphe, see Napoleon's tomb, climb the towers of Notre Dame, and so, so much more. But if, in the end, these two days are all the time I had, I won't be disappointed. I've come a long way from my tiny hometown in Kentucky; I am not the same girl I was when all I knew were winding country roads and sunsets over rolling hills. When I am old, with a grandchild on each knee, these are the days I will remember most. These are the stories I will tell - how I ran away to Europe with a full heart and heavy suitcase, delved into the ruins of ancient castles, and saw the world from the tip of the Eiffel Tower. Who can ask for more than that?

J'adore Paris (Part IV)

2011-08-18T16:34:00.002+02:00

J'adore Paris (Part I)

J'adore Paris (Part II)

J'adore Parie (Part III)

My second and final day in Paris was by far my favorite. We were up for an early start, arriving at the Eiffel Tower at 8am, a full hour before the elevators make their first tourist laden ascent. By the time we left around noon, the place was packed and the lines were insane. Arriving early was definitely a good idea -- it only took about 10 minutes to reach the top after the Tower opened to the public.

The tower itself is beautiful, but the view from the top is even more so. It was fun to pick out all the places we'd seen the day before on the ground below. The ride to the top was nerve wracking -- I made the mistake of standing in front of an elevator window -- but thankfully the structure feels very sturdy and safe up top. The entire top level is caged in, and the second level is surrounded by a pretty high railing. Despite my antipathy for heights, the tower is the thing I am most impatient to visit again. I'd love to go back and spend more time taking in the view.

The tallest structure in Paris, the Eiffel Tower stands 1,063 feet tall (about the same height as an 81 storey building). When it was built by Gustave Eiffel in 1889 it was the tallest structure in the world, and held the title for 41 years until the Chrysler Building was raised in New York City. Since its completion the Tower has become the most visited paid monument in the world, boasting over 200,000,000 visitors.*

(If you enlarge this one you can make out the Louvre and Notre Dame.)

I'll be wrapping up my Paris posts with a montage of street shots and a write up of my trip to the Louvre (no photos of the museum, I'm afraid, since my camera died upon returning to the ground below the Eiffel Tower). Did you miss something? Links to my first three posts are at the top of this one.

J'adore Paris (Part III)

2011-08-17T13:11:00.000+02:00

J'adore Paris (Part I)

J'adore Paris (Part II)

The evening of my first day in Paris was spent sampling a very French dinner at Le Bistro de Montmartre, and floating down the Seine on a boat tour of the city illuminated at night. But before that, we checked into our hotel. It has been renovated somewhat recently and was so cute I feel it deserves a spot in this post.

Our dinner at Le Bistro de Montmartre was very much what I'd imagined a meal in Paris would be. We were ushered into the restaraunt by a very friendly gentlemen who I assume was the owner, or perhaps a manager. Once seated, our orders for all four courses were taken immediately -- the service was prompt and attentive, and the food was delicious. Live piano music set the upbeat and magical tone for the evening.

Our trip down the Seine took off parallel to the Eiffel Tower and looped around the island dominated by Notre Dame. We didn't catch a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower's lights until the very end of the ride, but when we did I literally gasped. Not only is the structure aglow, it sparkles. It is the single most beautiful thing I have yet to see in my life. It was impossible to capture the beauty of the city lights on camera, but here are the few decent shots I did manage.

Up next is our ascent to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and then a montage of Parisian street shots. Use the links at the top of the post if you missed Notre Dame or the city sightseeing tour that included the Arc du Triomphe, Louvre Museum and other famous attractions.

J'adore Paris (Part II)

2011-08-16T19:36:00.001+02:00

J'adore Paris (Part I)

After our quick sightseeing tour, we headed back onto the bus for a trip to the Latin Quarter for lunch and an hour of marveling at the magestic Notre Dame Cathedral. This is probably the place I most feel that I cannot justly represent through photos. The cathedral is so huge and beautiful, and stepping through the doors you can feel the weight of so many years of rich history.

Notre Dame was commissioned by Bishop Maurice de Sully in 1106, and was one of the first structures to make use of flying buttresses. The Bishop was so unsatisfied with the current cathedral, Saint-Étienne, that he had it demolished, removed several homes from the site of Notre Dame and constructed a new road in order to transport the supplies needed to build the massive new church. Construction began in 1163, and Bishop de Sulley dedicated most of his life to the process. The cathedral was not effectively complete until around 1345. Since then it has undergone countless alterations and restorations, and narrowly avoided utter destruction in both the aftermath of the Frech Reveolution and the bombings of World War II. Multiple coronations and royal weddings took place here, as well as the cannonization of Joan of Arc. (Fun fact: I also found a wikipedia article about a pack of man eating wolves that were lured into the city and finally killed outside the cathedral gates.)

The two last photos are of the little streetside cafe where we got a quick lunch. It was directly to the left of the cathedral. I never learned the name of the place, but the little take away box of spaghetti was amazing, and my caramel crepe was even better. The whole meal cost 11euro, which is pretty cheap by the city's standards.

Still to come: A very French dinner, a boat ride down the Seine, the photos from my trip up the Eiffel Tower, and a collection of random street shots. Stay tuned!

When You Give a Brinks a Bunny

2011-08-16T01:18:00.000+02:00

J'adore Paris

2011-08-15T19:01:00.002+02:00

My bus from Paris returned late last night, leaving me on a curb with a bag of souvenirs, a dead camera with hundreds of photos, and memories of what I can now legitimately call my favorite city on Earth. This past weekend was such a wonderful experience, and one that I cannot wait to repeat. There are not words (nor photos) enough to express the beauty of tiny, winding French avenues, the vastness of Notre Dame, or the enormity of the Eiffel Tower. I wish I could send each of you a delicious little caramel crepe from a streetside cafe, and a big fluffy croissant besides. Since I cannot, enjoy this series of Parisy posts. First off, the super-fast city sightseeing tour via bus...

Our tour started with a stop at Place de la Concorde, the public square designed in 1755. It is probably best known as the site which hosted the guillotine during the "Reign of Terror" in the summer of 1794. More than 1,000 executions took place here within a single month. However, the square is far from menacing now. It is dominated by the massive Obelisk, and to the east is the beautiful Tuileries Garden, where locals and tourists alike can be found taking a leisurely stroll.

Next we marveled at the Arc du Triomphe, and maybe a little at the crazy traffic, too. The Arc commemorates those who were killed fighting for France in the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, and beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I. As soon as we were back on the bus a short shower of rain poured down. But Paris is Paris, and a little bad weather doesn't deminish its beauty.

This little souvenir shop was our meeting point with the bus after seeing the Arc. Much to my surprise, I'd recommend it. The prices were much more reasonable than those at shops nearer the attractions. In fact, I'd also recommend almost any street vender. Their souvenirs are usually more unique and better priced, and unlike in actual shops, you can sometimes bargain with the owners until you're satisfied with what you're paying. However, the streets are also full of wandering salesmen who will follow you persistantly, begging to make a sale. (They do have good prices as well though. I picked up 5 cute little keychains for friends back home for a total of 1euro.)

Next we headed off to find a good view of the Eiffel Tower. (We didn't ascend the tower itself until the next day.) These photos were taken from the Palais de Chaillot, which was also beautiful in its own right.

After our Eiffel Tower photo opp, we headed over to see the famous gilded dome of the Hôtel des Invalides, where the Musée de l'Armée and Napoleon's Tomb are located.

Our last stop on this fast paced tour was a drive by of the Louvre. I was extremely grateful for this the next day when my camera died just before we arrived back at the museum. With nearly 35,000 objects on display the Louvre is one of the largest museums in the world. The building served as the royal palace until 1682 when King Louis XIV chose the Versailles Palace for his household and the Louvre was left to house the royal collection. The Louvre did not become the famed museum of today until after the French Revolution. The glass pyramid made famous by The DaVinci Code was completed in 1989.

Later we visited the Latin Quarter to see Notre Dame, enjoyed a fantastic French dinner, took a boat ride down the Seine to view the city illuminated by night, and ventured to the top of the Eiffel Tower, but those are all stories for another post.

The Scorpio Races

2011-08-11T18:14:00.000+02:00

Are you ready for this? I AM.

My obsession with all things written by Maggie Stiefvater began with Shiver, which surpassed my wildest hopes for a young adult novel. I devoured each new book in that trilogy as they were published, and then backtracked to read her faerie novels, Lament and Ballad, which I also love. All of these books share one trait -- they have a gritty realism that balances the teeming magic in the stories, making each adventure utterly believable. I recommend them all to everyone. The Scorpio Races is Maggie Stiefvater's latest novel, and my expectations are running high. I cannot wait until October.

When You Give a Brinks a Bath

2011-08-10T19:33:00.000+02:00

The Many Faces of Brinks

2011-08-04T13:20:00.001+02:00

1.) Typical Brinks:

2.) Pouty-face Brinks:

3.) Sleepy Brinks:

4.) OMGISTHATICECREAM!?!?! Brinks:

5.) Abstract Brinks:

6.) Nom-noming Brinks:

7.) Busted Brinks:

Spaghetti with Tomato and Basil

2011-08-02T19:35:00.000+02:00

recipe via gas•tron•o•my

(yumyumyumyumyum)

I just whipped this up today. I just finished stuffing the contents of that plate into my mouth two minutes ago. Honestly, I don't know why you're still on carrotspeak and not in your kitchen making your own batch. For serious.

Are you still here?

Why?

But since you're reading -- Isn't it pretty??

When You Give a Brinks a Bone

2011-07-28T13:09:00.000+02:00

New Year's Un-Resolutions Update

2011-07-26T22:32:00.001+02:00

Way back in December drew up this list of goals for 2011. Half the year is over; it is high time for a status update/revised edition.

Go to Paris. -- Progress has been made! A new friend and I are planning a girls' day trip next month through Paris Tours. [!EXCITEMENT!] The husband has agreed that it's impossible for us to go on an out-of-country-vaca together any time soon, what with him extinguishing his leave reserve for our trip back home to the states. Though the date of our visit has been pushed back multiple times, we now hope to be back in Kentucky for a few weeks in September. So a girly Paris trip it is.
Come up with a reasonable financial plan. -- Progress is sluggish. Every time we make any headway with a savings plan, some unforseen peril squashes our bank account flat again. Such is life as newly weds. However! We are managing our "going home" fund very well, and I did manage to negotiate a solution to the crazy German billing problems with Vodafone/TKS. (Seriously, what kind of phone/internet provider refuses to send bills in the mail?) Thank goodness for small blessings.
Apply (and be accepted) to UMUC to finish my degree. -- No progress. Picking up transcripts from my previous university whenever we manage to make it back to Kentucky. (Fingers crossed for September!)
Find a friend. -- Accomplished. I have about three close girl friends here. I've also kind of adopted my husband's friends too. Hanging with the guys is usually entertaining.
Get a cat. -- Adapted to: "Get a fluffy puppy." Accomplished. After two potential cat adoptions fell through, we found our baby Brinks through Angie's Pet Finding Service. I was terrified that this would be a scam, but was thrilled to discover that it is most certainly not. Angie Calligan helps military families stationed in Germany find puppies (and kittens, too) from reputable breeders. Her service was a blessing. Puppies are so hard to find when you have no connections, and not speaking the native language wasn't helping any either. (Many German animal shelters are hesitant to let Americans adopt their animals -- military families have a bad reputation for abandoning their pets upon moving.) Within a week of emailing Angie, she'd already found us Brinks and set us up an appointment with the breeder to come and meet him. She provided directions to the breeder's home, and offered to translate via phone if need be (though it wasn't neccessary).
Read all the books I put on my 2011 reading list. -- This one was adapted to: Read fifty books in 2011. I've been tracking my progress via Goodreads. I'm nearly done! Only six more books to go until I reach my goal.

2011 Reading Challenge

Carrie has read 44 books toward her goal of 50 books.

hide

44 of 50 (88%)

view books

The grand tally: 2/6 goals have been met, 3/6 show progress, and only 1 has been neglected. I'd say those are pretty decent results.

On a side note: Today is mine and Kyle's one year wedding anniversary. A nifty little known fact -- this is also our dating anniversary. Today marks three years of our being a couple.

Daily dose of Brinksy-boy cuteness:

Have any of you met your New Year's Resolutions yet?
Did anyone else get married on their dating anniversary?
Any suggestions for my upcoming Paris trip?

Bringing Home Baby Brinks (And also a bit about Creuzburg's Werrabrücke and Liboriuskapelle)

2011-07-25T19:16:00.002+02:00

320 miles and 580 Euro later,

we are happy to introduce to you...

...Brinks! Our adorable little maltipoo just turned two months old today. He cost an ungodly amount of money, and housetraining him is beyond frustrating, but his big baby eyes and cute squeeky bark make him very much worth all the trouble. I mean, just look at him! He is so freaking cute!

We picked him up two days ago in Creuzburg and took him on his very first adventure there, exploring the Werrabrücke and Liboriuskapelle (the Werra Bridge, and Chapel of St. Liborius). From what I gather via Wikipedia and various tourist signs, construction started on the "new" (current) Liboriuskapelle in the early 1500s. In 1520 an artist named Kunrad Strebel of Rotenburg decorated the interior with painted frescoes depicting the lives of St. Elisabeth and Christ, and on September 1, 1523, the Carthusian monk Albert of Kempton preached the Lutheran doctrine there for the first time before large crowds, prompting many of Creuzburg to convert to the Protestant faith. However, in 1528, the Peasants' War reached Creuzburg; the frescoes were painted over and the chapel was closed. The chapel underwent many changes over the years, notably the addition of stained glass windows in 1840 by Grand Duke Carl Alexander. The original frescoes weren't uncovered again until restoration during 1932-38. Then on April 1, 1945, the city of Creuzburg was occupied by American troops and both the chapel and bridge were badly damaged. It took a decade for these damages to be repaired.

It would have been nice to know that little chunk of history when we visited Creuzburg, but my German is only as good as Google Translate allows. Our discovery of these landmarks went a little something like, "Hey, Kyle, pull over. That looks pretty! We should take Brinks' picture up there."

So what were you guys up to over the weekend?

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II

2011-07-16T12:52:00.000+02:00

July 13, 2011, as told by photographs:

An Unabashed YA Book Binge

2011-07-07T14:41:00.000+02:00

Some no-nonsense reviews plucked straight from my Goodreads account for your viewing. Maybe because I'm too lazy/currently uninteresting to type up a proper post. Or maybe because I feel a deep need to share my YA addiction. You can decide.

Across the Universe; Beth Revis; 4/5 stars

Summary: In the not too distant future, Earth's economy is collapsing and people are becoming desperate for any kind of financial support. Meanwhile, a new planet has been discovered that has been deemed habitable, and hundreds have put their hope in this new world. Amy's parents are two such people. The catch? It will take three centuries to make the voyage through space, and since Amy's parent's are labeled "essential" to the founding of a colony on the new planet, they are among a group of engineers, military personel, and other specialists who are cryogenically frozen before take off. As if being half-conscious in a coffin of ice for 300 years isn't bad enough, a mysterious mishap wakes Amy up fifty years before the ship is due to land. The only non-functional member on the massive ship, Amy must discover why she was unfrozen early in order to keep her parents and the other "essential" specialists from thawing too soon, or worse, dying, before they reach their destination.

Thoughts: Beth Revis is my new hero. I never thought I'd find myself so enamoured with a science fiction novel. Yet here I am, head over heels for Across the Universe. The story is fantastic; the characters are real, with real motivations; and Revis' writing is both subtle and gorgeous. Most importantly, she avoids the major pitfall of the YA genre: her characters do not fall immediately into passionate love for no apparent reason. The romance featured here feels genuine and believable. Across the Universe is an exceptionally stunning debut novel. This is not an adventure you want to miss.

For those with eReaders: As a Kindle eBook, this was one of the better ones I've read -- clear, consistant formatting, with good editing. The price of the eBook is actually one dollar higher than the price of a hard copy, but the convenience of the eBook format makes it well worth the money.

Wither; Lauren DeStefano; 3.5/5 stars

Summary: In a world free of all major ailments, life should be perfect, but instead, a freak medical accident has reduced the life expectancy of women to 20 and men to 25. All children born to the "new generation" are doomed to die a gruesome death, contracting an undefeatable new virus mere months after their 20 or 25th birthday. To keep the human population from dwindling, young girls are kidnapped and sold as brides to the polygamous weathly upper class, or forced into prostitution. Rhine Ellery is one such stolen girl. She is lucky enough to become the bride of a kind architect in Florida, but unlike her sister wives who were raised as orphans, Rhine has a brother and childhood home. She has tasted freedom. Though no bride has ever managed an escape, the possibility of returning to her life and brother is what Rhine lives for.

Thoughts: Another review called Lauren DeStefano's Wither "The Handmaid's Tale retold for teens." There are certainly strong similarities between the two books; in both women are forced to leave their lives and homes to work toward the "greater good" of repopulating the earth. However, it's not quite fair to think of Wither as a derivation or copy. This is truly a unique story, and an impressive, though not flawless, debut.

Rhine is a strong heroine. That in itself sets Wither apart from the mass of YA novels centered on helplessly besotten girls. From the moment she is taken into captivity, Rhine is resolved to escape, and neither her rich husband's oblivious kindness nor the budding romance she shares with a servant will deter her. Reminiscent of Katniss (The Hunger Games) or Amy (Across the Universe), Rhine's strong will is a welcome break to the YA mold.

Also notable is the relationship between the "sister wives." The expected "competition" never forms. Despite their stark differences and unequal privileges, the girls have surprisingly little animosity toward one another. In fact, they truly begin to form a sister-like bond, protecting each other from the many dangers of their world. Their characters were surprisingly well developed, and their actions always justified. These girls feel startlingly real.

[SMALL SPOILER AHEAD!] My only complaints about this book concerned Linden, the hopelessly blind and doting husband. He is supposedly controlled by his overbearing father, but I found his obliviousness in regard to his wives' pasts hard to believe. Apparently, he doesn't even realize that the girls have been kidnapped -- he is under the impression that they were raised to become wives, and that they submitted willingly to their marriage. Since the girls spend their first few days in his mansion drugged and unconsious, I found this (for lack of a better term) excuse for his character hard to swallow. DeStefano tries to make Linden almost pitiable, but I didn't buy it. Had he known about the girls' plight and been sympathetic or outraged by it, had be been a true prisoner of his father, it might have been beneficial to pen him as a "good guy," but as it was, he read as either incredibly stupid or falsely benevolent. Neither was effective. (Maybe this issue will be cleared up in the sequel?)

Overall, Wither was a well written and fascinating story. I'd definitely recommend it as a fun read, but wouldn't give it any medals.

For those with eReaders: I read this one on my kindle, and it was excellent. The cover (both front and back) and inside flaps were shown, as well as the designs on the opening pages. No errors in editing, as far as I could tell, and no mishaps with formatting. One of the best I've seen so far. Price was about $10, so cheaper than a hard copy.

The Iron King; Julie Kagawa; 3/5 stars

Summary: Meghan Chase is an average American teenager. Except that she's not. Sure, she's unpopular, broke and has no social life, but unbeknownst to her, she's also the daughter of the Summer Court's Faery King. When her little brother Ethan is replaced by a changeling, Meghan must embrace her secret heritage and journey into Nevernever, the land of fey, to save him. Along for the journey is Meghan's best friend Robbie, secretly the famous "Puck" of A Midsummer's Night Dream, who has spent all 16 years of Meghan's life disguised as a human, protecting her from malicious fey who would seek to kidnap the Summer Court princess. Also lending a helping hand is Grimalkin, who bears a striking resemblance to the Cheshire Cat.

Thoughts: The Iron King was a great concept with underpar character development. Almost everyone falls flat, making predictable decisions and exhibiting very little "growth" throughout the book. However, the idea behind The Iron King was a fun twist on faery lore. While searching for her little brother, Meghan learns that there has been a massive change in the balance of Nevernever. Alongside the traditional "Summer Court" and "Winter Court," "The Iron Fey" have sprung into existance: a new species of faery birthed of human imagination and dreams of technology and science. The Iron Fey thrive on iron, the bane of all other faery existance, and threaten to overrun their territory and slowly poison both other courts.

The descriptions of Nevernever are another highlight. Every setting in the book feels realistic -- balancing the beauty and magic with harsher facts of faery life. Even the backdrops in the human world are well established.

For those with eReaders: I read this on my kindle. The formatting was flawless and the price slightly lower than the hard copy's. No complaints.